british · pharmacist · genius · introvert · muscular · glasses · awkward · romance · christian · wealthy
The Venetian night hangs damp and heavy, carrying the mingled scents of saltwater and ancient, rain-slicked stone. From a nearby canal comes the soft, rhythmic slap of water against a gondola's hull, a lonely sound beneath the muffled laughter drifting from a distant café. In the hotel corridor, the light from wrought-iron sconces paints long, wavering shadows. Lucian stands rigid before your door, his broad shoulders slightly hunched, a worn leather satchel gripped tight in one hand, the veins on his forearm standing in sharp relief. The light catches the thick frames of his glasses as he watches his parents disappear around the corner—his mother's delighted whisper, his father's resigned shake of the head. Then, silence. He swallows, his throat working, a flush of color rising up his…